Williams joins Titans' staff, apologizes for Bountygate

Feb. 7, 2013
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In this Sept. 26, 2010, file photo, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams appears during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Williams has a job waiting with the Tennessee Titans when commissioner Roger Goodell lifts his suspension. / Gerald Herbert, AP

by Jim Wyatt, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Wyatt, USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Titans hired Gregg Williams as senior assistant/defense today after the NFL reinstated the veteran coach from indefinite suspension for his role in the Bountygate scandal as Saints defensive coordinator.

Williams started his NFL career with the Oilers/Titans and coached for 11 seasons (1990-2000) for them, including four as defensive coordinator.

"I take full responsibility and apologize for my previous actions, and I've used this year to reorganize my life and put focus on positive energy and positive ways to inspire and coach and motivate in this profession," Williams said, reading from a statement.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity."

Titans coach Mike Munchak pointed out he has known Williams since 1990 when he first joined the then-Houston Oilers as a quality control assistant. Munchak spent the past month trying to figure out how to improve his defensive coaches, and he said he called Goodell for a long talk on the details of the bounty situation and Williams' status.

"He knows changes have to be made in the way he's done things in the past," Munchak said of Williams. "I think we're on the same page. I think we're excited about the opportunity."

Williams was Saints defensive coordinator from 2009-2011. After initially denying any involvement in Bountygate scandal, Williams admitted to running a bounty pool of up to $50,000 over three seasons with the Saints that rewarded players with thousand-dollar payoffs for knocking targeted opponents out of games.

Last March, the NFL suspended Williams indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the league. The league issued a statement today:

"Commissioner Roger Goodell today notified Gregg Williams and the Tennessee Titans that Williams' contract with the Titans has been approved and that he has been reinstated. The commissioner cited several reasons for the reinstatement, including Williams' forthcoming acknowledgement of and acceptance of responsibility for his role in the bounty program at the Saints, his commitment to never again be involved in a pay-for-performance or bounty system, and his pledge to teach safe play and respect for the rules at all levels of the game. The commissioner emphasized that Williams must fully conform to league rules and will be subject to periodic monitoring to confirm his compliance."

Williams will work with defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. They worked together previously with the Titans, Redskins and Bills, but in those instances Williams was either head coach (Bills) or coordinator (Titans, Redskins).

In Williams' final season in Tennessee, the Titans ranked first in the NFL in defense and second in scoring defense.

Williams is here on a one-year contract, He said he knows he has to work to change how people perceive him as a coach.

"I understand and respect the game an awful lot, and the past is the past and what I'm talking about right now is creating a resume from this day forward," Williams said.

Williams has 23 years of NFL coaching experience, including three years as Bills head coach (2001-03).